7th Open Government Forum Meeting
Valuing Democracy in Australia's Words, Actions and Public Spaces
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Acknowledgements omitted
I am pleased to welcome you all to the seventh meeting of Australia’s Open Government Forum.
Australia is fortunate to be served by the Forum’s co-chairs, Professor Kate Auty and Deputy Secretary Simon Newnham. Together we continue to implement Australia’s Third National Action Plan.
Australia has just concluded another year of parliamentary democracy. This “new” Parliament House is one of the most open parliamentary buildings in the world. The 460 meter long curved walls. The 4,500 rooms. The 10,000 workers who sweated over eight years to build it. All guided by the idea that opening the doors to our democracy is how we protect it.
Above us is the grassed roof, reminding that the people stand above their elected representatives. The forecourt through which you all entered today was designed to invite people into the building. That large open space is framed by two walls that appear to be outstretched as if in a gesture of welcoming arms. Welcoming the public into their building.
Politicians are just tenants in this place. It is the people of Australia who are the owners. Their building is full of glass and open courtyards which let light into the building. All reinforcing the transparency that sustains strong democracies.
Principal architect Romaldo Giurgola observed that Parliament House:
'…could not be built on top of the hill as this would symbolise government imposed upon the people. The building should nest with the hill, symbolically rise out of the Australian landscape, as true democracy rises from the natural state of things.'
Open Government Partnership
These ideas of participation, transparency, and accessibility are also the architecture of the Open Government Partnership. The Open Government Declaration acknowledges that people all around the world demand more openness from their governments.
Australians share these expectations. This is why we are outraged when we learn about secrecy and cover ups happening in the corridors of power. It is not what we expect of the people in this building.
Australia’s participation in the Open Government Partnership is a powerful tool to hold elected governments to account. It empowers citizens and reinforces this Government’s commitment to enhancing transparency and accountability. It enables us to tackle corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen governance.
By democratic standards, the Partnership is a new expression of old values. The word “brainstorming” hadn’t even been invented when the ornate mahogany tables were first installed at the White House. Yet around these tables in January 2011 a two day brainstorming session was held. Government ministers without their staffers. Without pre-scripted talking points. Grassroots change-makers carrying their experiences and insights into the halls of power.
One of the people in the room was the then United States Director for Development and Democracy, Jeremy Weinstein. The standard choreography of international conferences had been murdered on the dance floor. Instead, they 'gathered as a community of practitioners doing the real work on the ground.'
That culture continues for us here today. We sit shoulder to shoulder – our focus sharpened with each shared insight. The Open Government Partnership’s mission encourages us to embrace a consistent dialogue between government leaders and civil society advocates.
That mission is critical – now more than ever – as liberal democracies contend with greater challenges to civic engagement. We need to demonstrate that while we might have places at the table from time to time, the table belongs to the people. The communities we represent.
This idea lies at the heart of representative democracy. Enhancing engagement is fundamental to the health of our democracy. It improves and enriches the decisions we make. It makes our democracy robust, inclusive, and equitable.
We all have a duty and a right to participate in decisions that impact us. I have held this belief from an early age. As a primary school student in Fremantle, I would write letters to the local council advocating for ideas that would make our community a better place.
I have always believed it is the job of elected leaders to hand down a fairer society to those who come after us.
Integrity Reform
As we progress through the implementation phase of this National Action Plan, I want to highlight the broader set of integrity reforms pursued by the Government. Since the Forum’s last meeting in June 2024, we have passed significant milestones. All of these reforms were made possible by drawing the Australian community in.
Electoral Reform
I had the honour last week of introducing the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill 2024. This bill represents the largest reform to Australia’s electoral laws in over 40 years.
Enhancing the integrity of federal elections through improved transparency and accountability.
And delivering on Commitment 7 of this National Action Plan.
The bill responds to the 36 recommendations of the multipartisan Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters. Recommendations that drew on a strong body of evidence gathered through serious community engagement. Over 1,500 submissions. 11 public hearings.
A level of consultation that exemplifies the same democratic values the amendments will reinforce. We know that listening and communication is critical to democracy.
Again, we see this in Parliament House’s design – where 12,500 public address speakers were installed here at the time of its opening. 900 microphones. At this time, the sound and vision system in Parliament House was effectively the largest television and radio complex in Australia. 900 microphones but 12,500 speakers. Reminding us all that listening is often more important than speaking.
Similarly, an election must be an expression of the will of the people, not an outcome delivered by big money. This is why we sought to establish caps on political donations and campaign spending.
This is why we remain committed to improving the transparency of donations. And why we would ensure success by providing political parties and independent members financial support to meet the new transparency requirements. These critical reforms promote integrity in our electoral system, and strengthen Australia’s democratic process.
Privacy Act
In September, the Attorney-General introduced significant reforms to the Privacy Act 1988. An act that was first legislated in this place just a few months after new Parliament House opened. When faxes sat on the desks of policy advisers. Pagers clung on the belts of our parliamentarians. And now, these reforms will ensure our privacy laws are fit for purpose in the digital age.
The Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 will legislate the first tranche of proposals agreed to in the Government Response to the Privacy Act Review.
Introducing a statutory tort for serious invasions of privacy, and targeted criminal offences to address doxxing.
Clarifying obligations imposed on entities by the Australian Privacy Principles to keep personal information secure.
Facilitating information sharing in circumstances of an eligible data breach.
Increasing transparency around automated decisions that significantly affect the interests of individuals.
Enabling the Information Commissioner to conduct public inquires on privacy matters.
The Bill is informed by significant consultation undertaken throughout the Privacy Act Review process. We engaged with the community on an Issues Paper, Discussion Paper, and the Government Response to the Privacy Act Review.
Over 360 stakeholder meetings opened up a dialogue on how we could make our privacy laws more robust. 900 submissions gave us perspectives from the community, academia and civil society. And the Bill is all the better for that public engagement.
Administrative Review Tribunal
Independent review of government decisions is critically important. Just last month, the new Administrative Review Tribunal started work. It represents the most significant institutional reforms to Australia’s administrative law system in decades. Through the reform process, the government heard about the importance of accessibility.
Including for people who experience disability, people for whom English is not their first language, and people experiencing hardship. We heard what needed to improve, and what fundamental aspects of merits review needed to be preserved and strengthened. Our reforms focus on delivering a Tribunal that is user-focused, efficient, accessible, independent and fair.
To further support transparency and integrity in government decision-making, the Administrative Review Council is being re-established. It will inquire into systemic challenges in administrative law, and monitor the performance of the Commonwealth administrative review system.
The Council will also support education and training for Commonwealth officials. This mechanism will provide the government and the broader system a trusted source of expert, independent advice.
New APS Value of Stewardship
Finally, on 11 December 2024, a new Australian Public Service Value of stewardship will commence. This implements a recommendation of the Robodebt Royal Commission.
This value will strive to ensure:
“The APS builds its capability and institutional knowledge, and supports the public interest now and into the future, by understanding the long term impacts of what it does.”
Stewardship captures the notion of responsibility for enduring institutional performance. It is central to a trusted, professional and high-performing public service. It means taking steps today to ensure the APS is equipped to address tomorrow’s challenges. It means placing Australians and future generations at the heart of how the public service operates.
I see the activities of the Forum as exemplifying stewardship with our Australian Public Service members and their broader agencies working with civil society.
Conclusion
I conclude by reminding us all the monumental challenges ahead. Democracies around the world are under threat. Anti-democracy forces are raging. Foreign interference. Online polarisation. Declining reserves of public trust. And Australian democracy is not immune.
But our work here is how we walk the path to a stronger democracy. And we have no time to wait. That determination to begin has also been the tradition of this building.
A tradition embodied in the first concrete pour on this site in 1981. Where the Parliament House Construction Authority adopted a “fast track” method for the build. Agreeing to start building the new Parliament before the design process was completed.
This was highly unusual for the time. But it was the only way to commence and complete this project.
Our efforts to prepare the Fourth National Action Plan should adopt this spirit too. A commitment to practical action now. A determination to do more. To bring more Australians around the table.
I am honoured to take a seat at the table with you to connect government and communities.
I look forward to working with you and wish you all the best for your discussions today.